Alcohol and liver damage

Alcohol is mainly broken down by the liver,

and this process creates byproducts that
damage the liver more than the alcohol itself
does. Prolonged inflammation from longterm
alcohol use causes an overproduction
of molecules called free radicals that can
destroy healthy liver tissue, subsequently
impairing liver function.
Alcohol can also disrupt the production of
antioxidants, which defend the body against
free radical damage. The combination of
overproduction of free radicals and loss of
antioxidants can contribute to liver damage.

Women may be more prone than men to the

damaging effects of alcohol.
Drinking lessor not at allcan be very
difficult. Some people cut down or quit on
their own, while others find that support
groups, counseling, or pharmacotherapy
work best for them.

Recreational drug use

The liver is the organ that processes most recreational drugs. These
are likely to contain impurities and unspecified ingredients. If you
are injecting drugs, use new, sterile equipment syringe, cooker,
filter, water, tie, and measuring syringeeach time to protect
yourself from reinfection with hepatitis C and from other infections.
If you want to stop using recreational drugs, there are places where
you can get help. See page 68 for a list of resources

Smoking
Smoking has a negative impact on everyones health. For people
with hepatitis C, there is some weak evidence suggesting that
smoking may accelerate hepatitis C progression, but most people in
the studies also drank alcohol, making it hard to tell how much
smoking mattered.
Stopping smoking is not easy. Quitting during hepatitis C treatment
may not be the best time for some people. Giving up cigarettes may
be a long-term goal for many people; it may not always be a
persons most important short-term priority.
If you feel ready to stop smoking, talk with your doctor about ways
to make quitting easier.